This was taken in Old Town, Lansing during the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk.

"Yes, the lines and the value of the contrast embody the true Feelings of the artist: the search for the white door inside all of us. Open it, won't you?"

 F16 (Fighting Falcon?), 50mm, 1/255 sec, ISO 100

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Links to my Other Stuff and Things:

Geek Speak – Walk Like a Man to Jersey Boys

Ginger and the Geek – Podcast 035

"I really admire your photography, and some day I intend on viewing it."

 F11, 50mm, 1/320 sec, ISO 100

Ah, yes–balance (not to be confused with the Van Hagar album)

Call it what you will: the struggle between Light and Dark. Good and Evil. Coffee and Tea. It is a favorite subject to be discussed, even being a running theme for a series of six religious films. I witnessed this natural example whilst on the 2011 Scott Kelby Worldwide Photo Walk in Lansing’s historic Old Town.

I took a bunch of photos, but this one stuck out. Why? Look at the Light Side. It is not without its imperfections, signifying that even those who present themselves as being “in the Light” are far from perfect.

It also makes a case for the advantage of trying to meet someone in a dimly lit bar or discothèque. Why do you think Darth Vader wore a mask?

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Links to my Other Stuff and Things:

Geek Speak–Steve Jobs has Passed Away, EarthBound Revisited, pt. 4: Zombies!

Lovable Geek – Photo: Big Cat Naps

Plaidurday Blog – Great Moments in Plaid on TV and Film

"I'll take it."

Taken with a Samsung Epic Android Phone, processed in the Vignette Android App

Whilst on a constitutional in downtown Lansing, I spotted this delightful sight–a Bell’s Brewery beer truck parked near the Capitol. I over-saturated the colors in Vignette, because I figured, why not? Actually, the real reason is the girlfriend suggested I do so.

Clearly, she is the Talented One of our Lansing Power Couple: the Nancy to my Ronnie, the Eleanor to my Delano, the George Michael to my Andrew Ridgeley.

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Links to my Other Stuff and Things:

Geek Speak – Watch This: Drive (film review), Geek Speak – EarthBound Revisited, Part Two: A Spiteful Crow Stole My Breadroll

Loveable Geek – Longtongue Bearsson (Photo)

Singing: UR DOIN IT RITE

 F5.6, 200mm, 125th sec, ISO 3200

Dr. E showed us how It Is Done at the 2011 Lansing Jazz Fest (I was on the volunteer photo team). No jokes here, she was great and my favorite act of the night. She is also quite the dancer. She puts on a full show, if you ever get the chance to see her act, Do It. And somebody bring her a towel.

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Links to my Other Stuff and Things:

Ginger and the Geek – Men With Beards and Why She Loves Them

Geek Speak – Upper Peninsula Odyssey, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6

Lovable Geek – Octopus in a Jar

The Idler – A Moscow Mule, in a Copper Mug

It is a bit crooked on purpose. It MEANS something.

F8, 55mm, 1/100 sec, ISO 400

Some may ask, “Why bother with a post on a holiday?” and by some, I mean just a few of the voices in my head. No, it is not Harry Potter’s birthday (yet), it is the 4th of July.

But, just because the 4th of July is celebrated here, in the United States of Corporate Conglomerates America, does not mean the holiday is is celebrated worldwide (yet). Thus, for my True visitors, I give unto thee, like a modern day Prometheus, this photo.

I was on a constitutional on Lansing’s River Trail when I spotted this (seemingly) never ending blackness before me. The columns reminded me of some Grecian tomb, and I half expected a wild-eyed minotaur to spew from the shadows and challenge me for ownership of my Reeboks. What would my dozens of Twitter followers think, if I had met such a challenge and failed?

Thankfully, no such creature dwells under the bridges of downtown Lansing (yet).

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Links to my Other Stuff and Things:

Ginger and the Geek – Podcast 027 – Andi Osters, Geek Design and Michigan Beer

Geek Speak – Try the Retro Camera App for Fun Cell Phone Photography, Geek LoveLansing: the Michigan Historical Museum

Lovable Geek – Snake in the Sand, Coiled, Another Out of Focus Photo of a Snake

"What are the hours?" "There ain't any." "Oh, so it is 24 hours?"

Cellphone photo with the Retro Camera Android App

I have taken an interest in street photography as of late, and here is one of my first attempts. If this counts or not, well, who cares? I was walking downtown, spotted the decaying remains of the old Lansing City Market building and snapped away. I used my phone and the Retro Camera app (Orange Box setting). Using my phone makes it easier for “candid” shots, but I will try using my DSLR for this project soon–and probably just stick with my 50mm lens.

Captain America was also known to throw stickers.

Taken in the downtown Lansing Post Office (my shipment of prescription flip flops had arrived).

Shot with my phone (Samsung Epic) and processed in the Vignette Android app. I believe I used one of the Tobacco filters for the gradient, and a couple of other options, including the panorama cropping.

This is the perk of (finally) having a fancy smart phone: I always have a 5 mega-pixel camera on me, and access to photo editing software. Sure, I’d rather have my DSLR (a Canon Rebel T2i) and Photoshop, but my phone and Vignette are a very acceptable Plan B.

There are days I miss having a simple point and shoot with me, but since the camera on my phone is nearly as good (my old point and shoot was 6MP), I don’t miss it too much. Plus, shots with my phone get online much quicker.

As photo-friend Becky Johns told me once, “The best camera is the one you have with you.” (And she bought me a Shamrock Shake once, so you know she’s Good People)

Such was the case during my visit to the Post Office. I spotted the sticker and thought, “Man, why did they cancel the Gummi Bears cartoon?” “Hey! That looks neat.” I wasn’t there looking for a photo opp, it just happened, like a seagull sticking out its tongue.

Sometimes the best shots are the ones you aren’t looking for–and that’s what I love about photography: capturing those unexpected moments.

This shot is from my 2011 Year in Pictures set on Flickr.

For this photo, we were in one of the archive rooms which the public isn’t allowed to visit without special permission. It is where they store state records, and our guide pulled out this prison record book–he wanted us to see the photo above.

The man in the photo had a full body mug shot taken. Why? He had quite a bit of tattoos. Including one on his torso which said “Ladies Only” and had an arrow pointing to his groin.

That’s classier than Valentine’s Day at White Castle. Puts my “I Brake for Log Ladies” tattoo to shame (ah, college and Twin Peaks marathons. What a winning combo).

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Links to my Other Stuff and Things:

Ginger and the Geek – Podcast 023 – Be a Rock Star in Your Own Town

Geek Speak – LoveLansing: Be a Tourist in Your Own Town, LoveLansing: Board of Water and Light Chili Cook-off

Magic of Eyri - Podcast 038 – Witchy Business

the Accident Fund Building on Lansing's River Trail

Now that I have a brand new phone (with a 5 MP camera), I went and bought the Vignette camera Android app. I was first introduced to Vignette via my girlfriend, who downloaded it for her phone a few months ago. While it costs about $4, you get your money’s worth. There are all kinds of settings, including the Cross-Processed mode featured above and “toy” cameras that emulate the look of a plastic Holga or Diana lens .

I like it, although prior to my purchasing the app, I would often complain (albeit jokingly) that it could do in seconds what takes me a good 15 minutes (give or take) in Photoshop.

But, that is not the point. The point is, Vignette is fun.

Taken from the Armory Building in downtown Lansing.

And that is my “goal,” or whatever, with my photos–have fun. And, as the girlfriend said, the composition and subject is all up to you–it just adds effects. If you have an Android phone with a camera (…which it should have, I would think), give it a try and goof around. You can download the demo for free via the Android Market.

"Jim, I have been...and always shall be...your...friend."

A sleeping rat at Preuss Pets in Old Town, Lansing. OK, am I the only one that thinks of the part in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan where [SPOILER ALERT] Spock dies in the crystal chamber?

"Please...don't look in the Windows '38 back up folder on my hard drive." © original source

No? Let’s go to the video.

[video link]

"I'm looking for someone--he's orange with...uh...dang it."

Taken at Preuss Pets in Old Town, Lansing. I stopped by while trying out different First Fridays deals around town.

Preuss makes for a fun spot to take photos, and this is the first time I ever had my SLR there. Glad I shot this in RAW, as I had to do quite a bit of color correction.

"Atep? Who was Atep?"

I was in Old Town, Lansing a couple weeks ago for a photography workshop, and I spotted this baby. It was resting in planter of some kind.

I was amused by the missing and/or broken letters. I made the shot black and white, because that is just what you do when it comes to these sort of things. Right?

Yummy.

One of many photos I took while at Lansing Give Camp over the weekend. More photos, and what Give Camp is all about, over at Ginger and the Geek.

I shot this with a 1.4 50mm lens lent to me by fellow Give Camper, Betsy Weber. She also lent me her 10-22mm lens, and you can see some of those shots in the Ginger and the Geek post linked above. I had a lot of fun using the wide-angle lens, and now I want one.

Shot in RAW, I boosted the saturation, as I wanted the yellow of the cake to stick out. I then tweaked the contrast a bit in Photoshop.

No wonder the ghosts are always after him.

Ever seen a cupcake that could take a bite out of you? I did this weekend at Lansing Give Camp. I volunteered to be on a team to build a new website for a non-profit group. I’ll have more details in a longer, more rambling blog post at Ginger and the Geek on Tuesday.

If only NHL refs followed a similar style of dress when it came to helmets.

A shot from a piece I did for Ginger and the Geek on the Lansing Derby Vixens. Taken at their first home bout in downtown Lansing. I had to crank my ISO a bit too much, but I kind of like the look here. I also cross processed the colors.

Because I wanted to.

"What, no hot tub?"

The set up plan for Ignite Lansing 4. I was a part of the photo team.

Care for a drink?

Photo of a drinking fountain on Lansing’s River Trail.

Goose, Goose, Goose never really caught on.

Canada Geese on the Grand River in downtown Lansing, MI.

Forrest Gump--the Secret Origin

A duck (another one?!) on the Grand River in downtown Lansing, MI. Looks like it lost a feather. Or some other bird did. Links follow.

I like this shot. This duck is leaving a piece of itself behind. We all do that, don’t we? And then one day–BAM–we’re a featherless, cold, duck waddling the streets all alone, wondering where it all went wrong.

Y’know, like in the film The Wrestler.

…What?

Links!

• Monday’s Photo: Piggy Pile.
• Wednesay’s Photo: Neon Trees (not the band).
• Friday’s Photo: Her Eye.

Other links!

• Last week’s episode of the Ginger and the Geek Podcast.
• I was a guest on the video podcast, Time Slot.
• For my fellow creative types with an over-active thinker, check out Thoughtback.  It keeps track of your ideas or thoughts for you (and is private).

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Daniel J. Hogan is a freelance writer, podcaster, and a photoblogger. He compares everything to The Wrestler in Lansing, Michigan.  Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.

A drainage (“DRAAAAAAAAIIIIINNNNNAGE!“) pipe in downtown Lansing, Michigan.

This can be found under a bridge downtown, and I was out early enough to get some decent light. Bam.

Love the shadows I got on this.

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Daniel J. Hogan is a freelance writer, podcaster, and a photoblogger. He lives in Lansing, Michigan and was kicked out of the sewers.  Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.

Knitted beer mugs don't work too well.

I spent some time with Knittas 4 Life gang at Michigan Brewing Company recently. Their current project is a scarf for the Austin Blair statue in downtown Lansing. I have a few photos of the ladies in action, but they didn’t turn out too great (I blame the low bar lighting). I’ll get ‘em on Flickr though.

This shot was taken with my brand new 1.8 50mm prime lens. I manually selected an auto focus point so that the MBC logo on the menu would be in focus.

It echoes my feelings while I was there: I was just focused on the beer, not the knitting.

I did a bit of  “staging” for this shot–I arranged the menus and the yarn. Not bad.

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Daniel J. Hogan is a freelance writer, podcaster, and a photoblogger.  He is trying to knit a camera strap in Lansing, Michigan.  Not really.  Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.

They were framed.

A pair of ducks on the Grand River, framed within the railing on the River Trail in downtown Lansing.

I was walking past these ducks and decided, “Hey, why not try to frame them within the railing?” I like trying for “frame within a frame” shots.

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Daniel J. Hogan is a freelance writer, podcaster, and a photoblogger.  He takes photos of ducks in Lansing, Michigan.  Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.

Taken in downtown Lansing, MI. Links follow.

I was on the River Trail, walking up to Old Town to do some Christmas shopping when I spotted this building. I had walked past it many times, but the lighting was never that great.

But–that was not the case this day.  The sun was right on the side of the building, so I lined up my shot (which required me to stand in a bush) and fired away.

I like the lines and the colors.

Links!

• Monday’s Photo: Uninterested Lady Duck.
• Wednesday’s Photo: Sequestered Dolphin.
• Friday’s Photo: Waiting for Santa Claws (or Paws).

Other links!

• When Parents Text. Scary.
• Make your own Tron Bag. Seriously. [via BoingBoing]

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Daniel J. Hogan is a freelance writer, podcaster, and a photoblogger.  He opens and closes doors in Lansing, Michigan.  Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.

"And then I--what are YOU doing here?!"

A hawk (?) of some kind in downtown Lansing.  I crept up behind it, on my stomach and caught it with my zoom lens.  This week’s links below.

It looks like my parents when I show up for Christmas dinner.

Not the best shot, but the look of this bird was priceless.  I sharpened it a bit in Photoshop.

Links!

• Monday’s Photo: Urban Tomato.
• Tuesday’s Photo: How to Make a Gingerbread Trailer.
• Wednesday’s Photo: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Signage.
• Thursday’s Photo: Prayer Flags at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
• Friday’s Photo: A Mickey Manhole Cover at Epcot.

Other links!

• The first Ginger and the Geek Podcast! (starring Yours Truly…I’m the geek).
• I wrote about heavy metal songs based on books for my Geek Speak blog.
• Science Fiction and Fantasy History Month goes to the movies in a guest blog I wrote for Elder Signs Press.

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Daniel J. Hogan is a freelance writer, podcaster, and a photoblogger. He follows birds around in Lansing, Michigan.  Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.

Look at this crack.  LOOK AT IT.  It is a metaphor for something,  I tell ya. See how the crack travels into the blurry horizon? It represents how our cracks go deep and we are all flawed.  Well, you are all flawed.  I sure as heck ain’t, because there is nothing flawed about having a fear of Emperor Penguins.  All my therapists say so.

Taken in downtown Lansing on the site of the old City Market.  I got to the site too early for the “golden hour” light, so I lay on my stomach for a few hours until the light was just right. Because, that is what you do.

I just wish I had noticed that ant hill first.

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Daniel J. Hogan is a freelance writer, podcaster, and a photoblogger.  He won’t be having children any time soon in Lansing, Michigan.  Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan.